Lake Constance Lake

Address: Lake Constance (Bodensee) - on the border of Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Lake Constance, locally called the Bodensee, is a large lake on the Rhine shared by Germany, Switzerland and Austria, with much of the German shoreline in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. The lake is typically described as two basins - the larger Obersee and the smaller Untersee - linked by the stretch of water around the city of Constance.

The lake covers roughly 536 square kilometres and supports a busy system of ferry routes, lakeside towns and recreational boating. Key German towns on the northern and northwestern shores include Konstanz and Friedrichshafen, which serve as transport hubs and gateways for tourism.

Lake Constance has long been important for regional transport, fishing and tourism, with promenades, cycling routes and historic towns along its shorelines. The lake’s water balance is driven by inflow from the Alpine Rhine and outflow back into the Rhine downstream of Konstanz.

The lake lies along the tripoint region of central Europe, with easy access from cities such as Stuttgart and Munich by road or rail to the German shores.

• Size and international borders: Also known as the Bodensee, the lake covers a surface area of roughly 536 square kilometres and forms an international border region between Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

What to See#

• Upper and Lower basins (Obersee and Untersee): Obersee and Untersee - the lake is commonly described in two connected basins, the larger Upper Lake (Obersee) and the smaller Lower Lake (Untersee) separated by the Constance Bay area and several waterways.
• Major towns and ports: Major lakeside towns and ports such as Konstanz and Friedrichshafen on the German shore provide ferry services, marinas and transport links across the lake.

Lake Constance (Bodensee) is served by several lakeside towns. Arrive by train to major lakeside hubs such as Konstanz (Deutsche Bahn and Swiss connections), Friedrichshafen or Lindau (regional and IC services). The German A96 motorway serves the southern/eastern approaches toward Lindau; once at a lakeside town you can use local buses, regional trains and ferries to hop between towns (many ferry routes operate between Swiss, German and Austrian shores).

• Use the region's frequent car and foot ferries to hop between German, Swiss and Austrian towns - early crossings (before 10:00) avoid midday crowds and give the best uninterrupted lake views.
• Skip the busiest hubs (Konstanz, Lindau) at peak season and explore smaller towns such as Meersburg or Überlingen for quieter waterfront promenades and less busy harbors.
• If you plan to cycle, follow the well-marked Bodensee-Radweg (Lake Constance cycle path) and start sections early in the day to dodge tourist groups and afternoon winds that can make crossings choppier.